How to Run the Race (Pt. II)
Sermon – July 31st 2005
Last week we began in a new series on Perseverance entitled “How Top Run The Race”.
As I mentioned last week, perseverance is a foreign concept in general to many in the Western world.
It is so important that we live by the spirit, that we seek to view the world through God’s eyes, not the eyes of the flesh.
2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight.
When we live by faith it will affect every part of our life, if we live by sight the same holds true in a negative sense.
If we view the world through the eyes of the flesh it is like putting on a pair of dirty sunglasses, everything looks distorted
The Jewish Christians being addressed in the book of Hebrews had suffered some persecution. Some had lost their homes, some were unable to do business – because of their faith in Jesus others in the Jewish community would not do business with them. In many ways the Jewish Christians became outcasts among their own people. Some of them had left the faith and many were drifting and were in danger of abandoning the faith which is one of the main reasons the letter was written.
This was also written before the fall of the Temple so Hebrews was also written in a prophetic sense to prepare them for the coming persecution that would come and would be far worse than what they had already been through.
(Brief review of Pt. 1)
I) Posture of Perseverance –
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…
II) Person of Perseverance –
Hebrews 12:2
Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…
III) Purpose of Perseverance –
Hebrews 12:3b
…so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Main Text...
James 5:10-11
10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Similar to Hebrews, James was written during a time when God’s people were suffering under various trials and persecutions and he was writing to instruct them through it.
1.Benefits of Perseverance –
James 5:10
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Last week we spoke about the great cloud of witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 12
James is making a similar point – the prophets serve as examples for all of us through the manner in which they endured suffering.
Hebrews 11:26-27
26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
As we spoke of last week, we see in this passage that Moses had a posture of perseverance – with his eyes fixed on Jesus.
But the example of Moses should benefit us in another way too.
Hebrews 3:13a
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today,
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
There is no doubt that one of the ways in which we can spur one another on is in perseverance.
Is there some one in your life who you know is struggling in some way? Someone who needs to persevere in the midst of their situation – how can you encourage them?
Is there a way in which you can come along side that person and help bear them up?
Our lives should serve as an example to one another...
1 Corinthians 11
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Notice…Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
We looked at the example of Christ last week…
Hebrews 12:2-3
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
As we follow the example of Jesus our lives will serve as an encouragement to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We must persevere not only for our own sake but for the sake of the health of the Church body. As much as we can build one another up and so strengthen the Church so we can also adversely affect the health of the body.
Let us consider the Benefits of Perseverance and…
2.Blessings of Perseverance –
James 5:11a
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.
This passage gives us a great example of someone who was blessed for his perseverance…
James 5:11
You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Job’s is a story of perseverance made difficult, his own wife and best friends were telling him that his problems were of his own making, that he must have sinned in some way.
They did the exact opposite of what God’s people should do under such circumstances.
Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace [God’s favor] to those who hear it. Amplified
In the end the Lord blessed Job’s life with compassion and mercy – He restored all that the devil had stolen from Job and then some…
Job 42:12-13
12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters.
We have looked before at the fact that there is a transcendent principle of scripture that says when we obey God’s Word He will bless us…
James 1:25
The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.
We need to persevere, in doing so we will receive the promises of God.
Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Notice that this verse promises that as we persevere we will receive what God has promised – in the context of this passage He is speaking of salvation.
Ultimately we need God’s strength to persevere in whatever circumstances we are in.
How wonderful! When we persevere we are blessed by God and He gives us the strength to persevere.
Colossians 1:9-11
since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience
Benefits of Perseverance
Blessings of Perseverance
